Cognitive Embodiment Activation by tDCS

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Healthy Young Adults
• Interventions: Device: tDCS; Device: sham-tDCS

• Registration Number: NCT03094520
• Lead Sponsor: Charite University, Berlin, Germany

Brief Summary

The main objective of the proposed research is to extend our understanding of how gesture and language interact, focusing on the role of cognitive embodiment in this interaction, and to explore the neural systems that support links between language and actions systems.

Detailed Description

Not available

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2016-05-01
• Study First Submitted: 2017-02-24
• Study First Submitted QC: 2017-03-23
• Study First Posted: 2017-03-29
• Primary Completion: 2018-05-01
• Study Completion: 2018-10-01
• Status Verified: 2021-05
• Last Update Submitted: 2021-05-10
• Last Update Posted: 2021-05-11

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 22

Inclusion Criteria

• Right handedness
• unobtrusive neuropsychological screening

Exclusion Criteria

• History of severe alcoholism or use of drugs.
• Severe psychiatric disorders such as depression, psychosis (if not in remission) and severe untreated medical problems.
• Contraindication for MRT (claustrophobia, metallic implants, ferromagnetic metals in the body, disorders of thermoregulation, pregnant women).

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: CROSSOVER

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Anodal tDCS + semantic, motor, attentional tasks	tDCS	Combination of gestural (subjects have to indicate if the gesture is related to the word), attentional and motor tasks with anodal stimulation
Sham tDCS + semantic, motor, attentional tasks	sham-tDCS	Combination of gestural (subjects have to indicate if the gesture is related to the word), attentional and motor tasks with sham stimulation

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
response time in semantic decision task	assessed during stimulation or sham stimulation of semantic decision task (last approximately 10 min) at specific timepoint within 2 weeks	Comparing response time in semantic decision task under anodal tDCS compared to sham stimulation (change from sham stimulation)
performance in attentional load task	assessed during stimulation or sham stimulation of attentional load task (last approximately 6 min) at specific timepoint within 2 weeks	Attentional load task: Participants are presented with a 6 positions ring that includes different shapes, they have to press V when they see a square and N when they see a diamond. They will have to ignore any shapes other than square and diamond within the ring or distractors that appear outside the ring.; Comparing performance in attentional load task under anodal tDCS compared to sham stimulation (change from sham stimulation)
performance in motor task	assessed during stimulation or sham stimulation of motor task (last approximately 4 min) at specific timepoint within 2 weeks	Motor Task: Participants are presented with a red Box and they have to click a button each time they see it as fast as they can.; Comparing performance in motor task under anodal tDCS compared to sham stimulation (change from sham stimulation)

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Functional connectivity predictors	assessed during baseline testing	Connectivity as measured by resting-state fMRI during baseline as predictors for performance and tDCS responsiveness
Other cognitive outcomes: change in Attention performance	change in attention performance from baseline after 30 min (approximately)	Digit span forward performance assessed before baseline) and after stimulation to test for tDCS effects on attention
Other cognitive outcomes: change in working memory performance	change in working memory performance from baseline after 30 min (approximately)	Digit span backward performance assessed before (baseline) and after stimulation to test for tDCS effects on working memory

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Charité; 🇩🇪 Berlin, Germany